Do I need an ITIN to get an EIN?

No. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 provide for a responsible party with no US tax identification number, who enters "Foreign" in the identification field. Anyone telling you otherwise is either mistaken or selling you a service you do not need.

Do I need an ITIN to open a business bank account?

Usually not. The account belongs to the company, so the EIN is the relevant identifier. Institutions verify you personally with a passport and proof of address rather than a US personal tax number.

When do I actually need an ITIN?

When you personally have a US filing obligation and cannot get an SSN — for example filing Form 1040-NR, claiming a treaty benefit personally, or being a partner in a partnership subject to withholding. Apply when the obligation arises, not pre-emptively.

EIN and ITIN: US tax IDs explained for founders

Guide · 2 min read

EIN vs ITIN vs SSN: which number you actually need

Confusing these three costs international founders months and unnecessary fees. The distinction is simple once someone states it plainly.

The short answer

An EIN identifies a business to the IRS and is what you need to open a bank account and take payments. An SSN identifies a US person. An ITIN identifies an individual with a US tax filing obligation who cannot get an SSN. Neither an SSN nor an ITIN is required to obtain an EIN.

	EIN	ITIN	SSN
Identifies	A business	An individual who must file US tax but cannot get an SSN	A US person
Issued by	IRS	IRS	Social Security Administration
Cost	Free	Free	Free
Needed to own a US LLC	No	No	No
Needed to open a business bank account	Yes	No	No
Needed to onboard with Stripe or PayPal	Yes	No	No
Needed to obtain an EIN	—	No	No
Needed to file a personal US return	No	Yes, if not eligible for an SSN	Yes, if eligible

The one that matters for your business

The EIN. It is what a bank asks for, what a payment processor asks for, and what appears on federal filings. It is free from the IRS, and a company with a foreign owner and no SSN can obtain one by submitting Form SS-4 on paper.

When an ITIN becomes genuinely necessary

You must file a personal US return, typically Form 1040-NR.
You are claiming a tax treaty benefit in your own name.
You are a partner in a US partnership that must withhold on your allocated share.
A specific institution requires it for a personal account — a business account normally does not.

Apply when one of these arises. Applying pre-emptively adds a slow process to a timeline that is already gated on the EIN.

For the full application walkthrough, see the EIN and ITIN guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ITIN to get an EIN?: No. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 provide for a responsible party with no US tax identification number, who enters "Foreign" in the identification field. Anyone telling you otherwise is either mistaken or selling you a service you do not need.
Do I need an ITIN to open a business bank account?: Usually not. The account belongs to the company, so the EIN is the relevant identifier. Institutions verify you personally with a passport and proof of address rather than a US personal tax number.
When do I actually need an ITIN?: When you personally have a US filing obligation and cannot get an SSN — for example filing Form 1040-NR, claiming a treaty benefit personally, or being a partner in a partnership subject to withholding. Apply when the obligation arises, not pre-emptively.

Sources

Last reviewed August 23, 2026. Verify against the primary source before acting.

Founders 8 does not provide tax advice. Tax residency depends on facts and rules specific to each jurisdiction — review your position with a qualified adviser.

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